Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

howbeit all of us in common must sow to eternal life, that is to say, we must pass through this world as strangers, lifting up our minds to the heritage where we should rest, and whereunto also it behoveth us to apply all our endeavour. And even when we travel for the sustenance of our bodies, let it be always with tending to the said mark, according as it is said that we must not live to eat […] but eat and drink to the end to be conveyed to another life: and that our living in this world is not to settle here, but to attain to ⟨p. 305⟩a higher thing, that is to say, to the heavenly life. Sith it is so, whensoever any man busieth himself to get his living, whither it be by tillage, or by some handicraft, or by trade of merchandise, or howsoever it be, in all the cares that we take for ourselves or for our households, let us always shoot at a higher mark. For surely it is a naughty thing, if a man busy himself but only about the getting of his living, and have no regard of Gods service. For in the getting of his living he ought too consider thus with himself: Howe will God allow of my doing? How will he accept my service? Truly that will he do if I walk not after mine own lusts, if I look that I do no man wrong, and if I busy my self faithfully about the thing that I am bound too do. This (I say) is the way for us too sow: that is too wit, that we be not wedded to the world, nor held down here beneath, but that we may always mount upward too the life of heaven. Now then let us look well upon the mean of sowing after that sort: that is to wit, of sowing too the spirit, saith Saint Paul. Wherefore let us consider that we be not as Asses and Oxen that toil and labour, and afterward do eat and drink, and are fed as reason and good right require: but that God hath adopted us too come to the life of heaven. Therefore let us sow to the spirit; and cut off all that may hinder our mounting upward, let us shake them off as hurtful things, and assure our selves that all such as labour to get reputation in this world, shall in the end find themselves disappointed. Why so? For they shall see plainly that it is but corruption. When he that shall have gathered great abundance of goods cometh unto death, he hath so much the more grief, because he made this world his paradise.

howbeit all of vs in common must sowe to eternall lyfe, that is to say, wee must passe through this worlde as straungers, lifting vp our mindes to the heritage where wee should rest, and wherevnto also it behoueth vs to apply all our indeuer. And euen when wee trauell for the sustenance of our bodies, let it be alwayes with tending to the sayde marke, according as it is sayd that we must not liue to eate but eate and drinke to the end to be conueyed to another life: and that our liuing in this world is not to settle heere, but to atteyne to